Improvement in methods of preparing fabrics to be cut into ornamental shapes



J. & R. LAMB.

METHOD OF PREPARING FABRICS TO BE CUT INT O ORNAMENTA L SHAPES.

. N10. 179,575. mm July 4,1876.

m X mm N.PETERS. PHQTO-LQTHDGRAPNEH, WASHINGTON C UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOSEPH LAMB AND RICHARD LAMB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN METHODS OF PREPARING FABRICS TO BE CUT INTO ORNAMENTALSHAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,575, dated July 4,1876; application filed February 26, 1876.

.desired to produce considerable numbers of elaborate shapes fordecorative and other purposes at short notice, or in too smallquantities tojustify the execution of dies. Our invention applies tosuch cases, and allows the production of great numbers with a highdegree of perfection, and at a very moderate cost.

We provide thin boards of wood, (one penciled or otherwise marked withthe desired pattern, suitable to guide the operator in cutting with ajig-saw,) and we strongly compress a number of layers of paper or clothbetween the two boards, and secure the edges firmly together in thecompressed position by strips of muslin glued thereoinand uniting thewhole into a single compact slab. .lhus prepared, we find that thelayers may be sawed through by ajig-saw in good condition, and that,after treating the whole exactly as if it were a sin gle thickness ofwood, the parts may be separated, and twenty shapes, more or less, ofpaperwill befound to have been thereby produced, exact fac-similes ofeach other, and accurate reproductions of the pattern which was penciledon the upper piece of wood.

WVe prefer to compress about three-quarters of an inch thickness ofpaper between two boards, each of a half-inch in thickness. In treatingwoven goods the best work will be performed by making the pile of fabricstill thinner-say, about half an inch of cloth between two half-inchboards. Oare,should be taken to execute the minute figures near thecenter of the pattern before the edges are much out, so as to release,or partially release, the material from pressure.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. v

Figure 1 represents a quantity of material partly shaped according toour invention. Fig. 2 is across-section through the mass before beingshaped.

Similar letters denote like parts in both figures.

A is the pile of paper or cloth. B is the upper board. 0 is the lowerboard, and D is the binding of muslin, which is glued upon the edges,while in a compressed condition, to firmly secure the whole together.

We have found no particular difficulty attending the compressingoperation, and do not esteem it necessary to describe it by drawings.Any simple screw or lever press may be used having flat surfaces of aproper size, with a clear space around, to allow the application of themuslin D.

We claim as our invention-'- The within-described process .of preparingcloth or paper for sawing into ornai'ncntal shapes, consisting ofcompressing a number of laminae, A, between boards .13 G, and gluing orcementing the edges of the whole with a strong fabric, 1), substantiallyas herein specified In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our handsthis 24th day of February, 1876, in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

JOS. LAMB. RICHARD LAMB.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A. BENEDICT,

O. G. STETSON.

